I could not have loved this book more. As a provider of gynecologic care to college students, I can't help but adore how reachable Dr Tang's explanations of reproductive health are to anyone with an inquiring mind. I literally recommended the book to a patient today.

Dr. Tang so importantly does not shy away from medically accurate information about gender diversity, intersex people, and abortion, describing each with the scientific evidence and respect each topic deserves. In a time where healthcare has been so politicized, Dr Tang's voice is more crucial than ever.

This user-friendly guide to gynecology is packed full of valuable information, advice and resources for anyone curious about or struggling with their reproductive health!

📣📖 PUB DAY REVIEW 📖📣 It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need To Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told)

Dang, if only people throughout the ages could have had access to such an excellent and educational resource. It's Not Hysteria centers on the reproductive health of all who identify as women, people assigned female at birth, inclusive of non-binary, trans, and intersex people.

I really appreciated the breadth of information and topics that Dr. Tang covers, aiming to give all readers a baseline for understanding reproductive health of people with female reproductive organs. She clears up myths and misinformation and educates on ways to communicate concerns and advocate to healthcare providers.

Each chapter is full of facts, definitions, and explanations of conditions and procedures. It may feel like a lot if you are reading the book all at once. But each chapter also concludes with a list of takeaways to distill the critical points. I anticipate going back through this book as a resource for my own health and questions, and I foresee the "Take Home" chapter sections will be helpful in reminding where to look.

Don't sleep on this approachable, inclusive, and much needed guide that sheds light on taboo topics surrounding the female reproductive system. Really, this stuff should be taught in high school biology or health classes so people can be educated about their own bodies (or the health of their loved ones).

Dr. Tang narrates the audiobook herself and she does an excellent job. She has a nice tone of voice and pace that are easy to take in. There is a lot of information dumping by virtue of the subject matter, though, so I anticipate picking up a hard copy as a reference. I'm grateful to have received this audiobook through Macmillan Audio's influencer program and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

From the Publisher's summary:
Reproductive healthcare, from abortion to gender-affirming care, is under siege. The onus continues to fall on patients to find and advocate for the care they need. Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how women engage with their bodies and their healthcare.

“Your story is more than enough. You already know why these topics are vitally important. Your experience is one of millions that are both completely individual and terribly similar.”

My Thoughts: Just wow. Non-fiction is never high up on my list, but when I saw this available in the Macmillan Audio Influencer form I knew I need to check it out. Even as a woman, it is not easy to understand the different gynecologic issues that can affect our bodies, so it was important to me to give this book a shot. I am so glad I did! The way Dr. Tang presents the information made it easy to understand and as though I was discussing these topics with an old friend instead of reading through a textbook. Her commitment to using inclusive language was appreciated and impressive. Dr. Tang also did an incredible job narrating. Her calm demeanor and direct language made listening to this book enjoyable.

I especially loved the section Self-Assessment and Communicating with Your Healthcare Provider. So often we do not have much time with our healthcare providers, so to have a well developed list of questions to help direct your conversation with your provider. While I loved and highly suggest the audiobook, I personally want to get an additional print version for reference, loan out to friends or family, and to help compile my thoughts prior to appointments.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for access to this ALC.

This is the first audiobook I read as part of Macmillan’s Audio Influencer Program, and while I don’t usually read nonfiction, this book drew me to it for not only being out of my comfort zone but also for being relevant to me as a woman and person with a uterus.

My first impression was that I was glad it was read by the author, @karentangmd , because I think someone unfamiliar with medicine would have been missing some je ne sais quoi quality that Dr. Tang possessed in order to make the content sound conversational and less dry or text-booky. My second impression was how glad I was that Dr. Tang addressed her use of inclusive language at the beginning of the book and stuck to her plan of inclusive dialogue throughout.

I don’t usually immediately want to share a book I just read with everyone I know, everyone has different tastes and timetables, or may not enjoy reading 😱, but if I could afford to gift this book to every woman and person with a uterus in my life, I absolutely would without a doubt.

Sure, there was a lot of information in here that I was lucky enough to have already learned either from school or life itself, but as with most things, there was so much more information I didn’t even know I needed in my life—and not everyone is so privileged with the education they receive! I appreciated that this book didn’t come off as preachy or fear-mongering. I also feel like it was totally kismet this book came into my life when it did as I’ve had a little health thing come up that this book made me feel much less stressed about because it was so informative.

In the Acknowledgments, Dr. Tang states that she wants this book to start a movement to transform gynecologic health and understanding, and I strongly believe it can and it should. I give this book all the stars and will recommend it to everyone I know who requires gynecologic care.

You know that saying, "if I don't laugh, I'll cry"? I feel like that is really applicable here. The statistics are staggering and truly wild; this was an insightful and educational listen. There are so many things I would have never known or felt relatable without resources like this and stories I gather from watching content from similar people on social media.

Although Dr. Karen Tang does mention that this isn't necessarily a "text book," it did feel like that with how jam packed it was with information and definition sharing -- which isn't a bad thing whatsoever but I was hoping for a bit more balanced listen.

I picked up this audiobook as a medical professional and was excited to find that the writing is very approachable. You don't need to be a medical professional to gain valuable insight from the author's extensive knowledge of reproductive health. In fact, this audiobook is written to answer the many common questions surrounding reproductive health. Dr. Tang is passionate in her belief that we deserve answers instead of being brushed off when it comes to seeking care for problems like painful periods, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction and other gynecological ailments that are commonly under researched and often ignored. . She also provides interesting background on how history played a part in our current knowledge (or lack thereof) of these topics.
Dr. Tang's provided the narration on her own work and her easy way of speaking only makes me want to go out and book an appointment with her.
It's Not Hysteria is going to be a game changer in the medical world. Through this book,, patients are given a valuable tool for advocating for better care for themselves and their loved ones.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is extremely accessible for the average person. Consumer Health Librarians should definitely add this to the collection. The audiobook has amazing narration and it is easy to navigate as a book.
I definitely loved the chapter on pelvic dysfunction.
I will be sharing this with everyone I know. This is essential information.

I’ve followed Dr. Tang on TikTok for quite some time and I was excited to hear she was releasing a book. She narrates her own book in the audiobook version. While she does give a comprehensive overview of conditions and potential treatment options, she also gives a nice takeaway section at the end of the chapter. I learned an immense amount from this book.

Thank you Macmillan Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is immensely informative, inclusive, and accessible. This is a must read for anyone with a uterus, who loves a person with a uterus, or is providing medical care. I loved that this can be read in it's entirety or that chapters can be referenced as needed.

I am so grateful to have received this as an audiobook because it made the entire book so much more accessible.

My friend, Karen, wrote a book! I had the pleasure of listening to an early copy of it. I don’t read too many non-fiction books, but this one is a must read for all women. It is an easy to digest guide to all women things. Each chapter is a new topic, and she hits on many different areas such as PCOS, fibroids, low libido, menopause and so much more. Karen lays out the information in a way that is easy to follow and straightforward. The cover is ABSOLUTELY amazing! Karen does a wonderful job narrating her own book and I am so proud of her! If you have any questions about your gynecologic health, this one is for you.

This book was absolutely incredible. It should be required reading for schools (think Health education), adults of any background, and any politician. Dr. Tang’s scope and breadth of research and resources included in this book has something for EVERYONE, regardless of sex or gender identity. As a cisgender female, I thought I knew about many of the issues covered in this book, but I can 100% say that I learned something new in every. single. chapter.

Dr. Tang strikes an incredible balance between research and real-life context, never bogging the text down with too much medical jargon. Truly, this book is informative, yet accessible, and unparalleled in its scope.

I was gifted the audiobook, from the publisher (thank you, Macmillan Audio!), and Dr. Tang is the narrator. Tang is engaging, conversational, and brings a wonderful nuance to the subject, through her clear passion for this topic.

I am so grateful for Netgalley and MacMillan Audio/Flatiron Books for allowing me to listen/read this amazing book by Dr. Karen Tang for a review.

You most definitely could say that there is some bias to this review for a several of reasons: I am a female, I have uterus, I have had my fair share of gynecological issues, I have patients with gynecological issues, and I have been WAITING for Dr. Karen Tang's book to be published. So giving this book 5 stars is quite easy for me. Baseline, it's a 3 star read for anyone who has a mature mind ready to learn about the history and the current treatment for things that involves humans with a uterus and ovaries, and other sexual organs. Dr. Karen Tang lays out the information in front of you, tells you what's truly going on, what a person can do, and how BEST to advocate for yourself.

This book is for anyone who has a uterus, and for those who don't! It's for those who are transgender, and it's for those who are cisgender. Dr Karen Tang has written a great, non fiction "medical" health book, that should be on everyone's to read list. I for one know that I will be buying a copy when it hits the shelves, AND recommending it to all my friends and coworkers. Knowledge is power.

Will post on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Instagram. Most likely on retails sites, such as Amazon, too.

I think this is a must read for anyone who would like to know about the reproductive system. As a person in my 40's I definitely learned a lot of information I did not know and never learned in school. It is also a really good book to get some of your questions answered that you may not feel comfortable asking your medical professional.

I was sent this as an ARC from NetGalley

#ARC #NetGalley #It'sNotHysteria #Nonfiction #Bookrec

Genre: nonfiction

This is a fascinating book to pick up about reproductive health! It's geared towards transparency in medical practice, structured with history and some present-day medical context, including current terminology around gender affirming care. The bulk of the book is then split into two additional parts: "what's the situation" and "what are the treatments." It's easy to jump around and find specific sections relevant to issues a reader may be facing. In each case, Tang gives the reader series of questions that a patient can ask a doctor, and ways of pre-planning for education for a doctor's visit, noting that much of the time a doctor has is limited to a short appointment window.

As a white cis-woman, I found the information nonjudgmental, which is the author's goal, but I'd be interested to hear what readers of other racialized backgrounds or gender identifications think of Dr Tang's approach. She's clear that she isn't speaking to only cis-women, but anyone who has or has had a uterus, identifies as female or woman or nonbinary with female reproductive organs.

The audiobook is narrated by the author, and she presents her ideas clearly and personably, which I think is critical for a nonfiction book on a topic so sensitive to so many readers. She relays her facts in a practical and approachable manner, taking a lot of the potentially scary mystery out of the equation.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this book! It's Not Hysteria is out 5/7/24.

The book has less of a narrative arc and is more informational, but the information is critical, seemingly and inexplicably inaccessible by typical medical routes, and extremely important for women to be able to advocate for themselves. That such a book is necessary is beyond comprehension, but that such a book is available is a godsend.

First I'd like to thank Dr. Karen Tang, Macmillan Audio, Flatiron Books and Netgalley for this Audio ARC.
I'm not one to tell you that a book is life changing, but this book is life changing. Like I tell my friends, I read like a rabid raccoon... I will read anything you put in front of me without abandon and my opinions vary widely. BUT, I recommend with 100% of my soul. it's SO well written, with fully inclusive language, and is incredibly informative if you want to learn more about gynecological and reproductive health. In school we learn the (flawed) basics, just enough to know that we aren't supposed to laugh in health class when the teacher says Penis or Vagina... and as we age, we learn just what is relevant to us in a specific moment... but what if we really understood gynecological health and the implications of a flawed health system that deprioritizes the health and well-being of people with uteruses. I believe that this book is not only for the people who have a uterus, but for every person who knows someone with a uterus. It's a book for adolescents so they can understand their changing bodies, and a book for grandparents who learned such outdated and incorrect information. It's a book that I will absolutely keep for my daughter as she gets older because I learned more in these few hours of listening to Dr. Tang about my own body than i learned in my 38 years on this lovely planet of ours. I've had my fair share of gynecological health issues, and that's probably not ending anytime soon, so to listen to this book, was to understand more of what is actually going on in my body and to learn about how to better advocate for myself.
The production quality was impeccable, Dr. Tang has a great VO voice as well as a brilliant mind and the tone of the book was perfect so not to feel like I was being preached to or sitting in a medical lecture. 5 stars isn't enough.

Fascinating. Informative. Accessible. A book full of facts organized in a way that the reader is both learning and feeing heard! Each section ends with a quick recap of notes highlighting the information to remember. This makes it much easier to organize each topic mentally. The author also takes the time to be inclusive to any person who would be impacted by gynecological health needs. Overall, this book will certainly be an important resource for myself from here on out!

The audiobook is read by the author who has a clear voice for the topic and is easily understood at faster speeds.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Dr. Karen Tang for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where the heck was this book when I was in my 20's?!? Man on man, it would have been helpful! I first discovered  Dr. Karen Tang on Instagram and was so excited to listen to her book. It's so informative but in an easy to digest banner. It's also broken up by clear chapters so you can hop around if a certain subject interests you or skip if it doesn't apply to you. I had no idea so many different things could be related to each other. I had quite a few lightbulb moments about issues and problems I've personally experienced. Listening to Dr. Tang felt like getting the much needed information we all missed in 7th grade but then also all the information we should learn in our 40's when things start really changing again. I would highly recommend listening or even better yet getting a physical copy that you can easily reference. I think one of my favorite parts about this book is just how much she explained different issues we may be too nervous to bring up with our Dr and also how she breaks down the parts of exams for those who might not have had one before. Anxiety is a huge reason why some people might be avoiding these Dr visits and I think that it's really rad she's trying to change the narrative here. The quality of this audiobook was really well done and I enjoyed listening to Dr. Tang narrating it herself! Thank you Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Dr. Karen Tang, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I began this audiobook assuming I would know a lot of what's covered regarding female anatomy but I was blown away by the amount of information regarding various conditions of the uterus, gender identity issues, and reproduction that I learned. Dr. Karen Tang explains all of this information in a way that's easily understandable by non-medical professionals and organizes each issue/condition into its own chapter.

I appreciate how Dr. Tang advocated for readers to use this book to help prepare them for appointments to explain their experiences with their doctors. With how sensitive so many of the issues can be, it was so helpful to know how to approach these with a professional.

I only wish this book existed when I was younger. I'm definitely going to buy the hardcopy of this book to keep for when my daughter will need it.